His father, Adam, said all three of his boys were interested in snowboarding this year.

“It’ll keep them busy after school,” said Adam.

Horseshoe Resorts and Hardwood Ski and Bike also opened Saturday for the winter season.

Hardwood has three trails open on Old Barrie Road in Oro-Medonte.

Horseshoe is started the season with two of 27 runs, 15 kilometres of groomed Nordic trails and 10 km of snowshoe trails.

“Mother Nature has been kind and the conditions have been better than expected for snowmaking, so we’re excited to welcome our ski season guests a bit earlier this year at Horseshoe,” Sean Billing, general manager, said in a news release.

He noted is in ideal start to the resort’s 5oth anniversary.

Jonathan Reid, director of snow sports, said the base was down to 35 centimetres from 40 after Sunday’s rain and the Nordic trails have since closed, but runs are open full time. He noted Horseshoe plans on starting to make snow again Wednesday.

“We had a really busy day … I think a lot of anxious people that didn’t get out last year were out right away this year,” said Reid, who estimated about 500 people hit the resort Saturday.

Mount St. Louis general manager Robert Huter said he is pleased to have runs open much earlier than last year’s Dec. 17 start to the season.

“Hopefully we can keep that momentum going,” said Huter, who noted the annual target is to open the last weekend of November or the first of December.

“If we see a period were we get 24-36 hours of cold weather, we will start making some snow,” said Huter, who noted the runs should be 75% open by the Christmas holidays.

With an average base of 30 cm, Mount St. Louis had four of 36 runs open and one terrain park ready for opening day.

Mount St. Louis open Sunday and will re-open again on Friday for the rest of the season.

Huter estimated about 500 people hit the hill Saturday morning.

“The keeners are out … the ones that just live for snow,” said Huter.

Toronto resident Michael Mikolainis is one of them.

“I’m here every year on the first day,” said Mikolainis, who thought he would continue the ten-year tradition.